Fully battened or conventional battened mainsail

[flaming]

For my understanding why doesn't a FB sail de-power if you ease the sheets in a gust? Would it not just choke off the slot or even bow the battens to windward, or it does but this is too inefficient compared to backwinding a standard batten sail?

Different type of depowering... As in, ability to flatten it, and set it up to be efficient in 20+kts (or more) upwind. So flat as a sheet of plywood. If you're looking for race course performance you want to be able to do this, so that when you turn downwind you have the area.

The racing multis like FB though, as they (unlike monos) like reefing...

 

[srah1953]

Flat as pancake

Different type of depowering... As in, ability to flatten it, and set it up to be efficient in 20+kts (or more) upwind. So flat as a sheet of plywood. If you're looking for race course performance you want to be able to do this, so that when you turn downwind you have the area.

QUOTE]

How do you get mainsail (non FB) flat as a sheet of plywood?
Thanks

 

[Elemental]

kicker tight, haul in on cunningham, on a fractional rig - back-stay tight to bend mast.

 

[Daydream believer]

I think a lot depends on the boat
I would never had fb on my Stellas but the fb on my Hanse is great
I disagree with others about adjustability or suitability, or not, for racing
My Hyde sail is infinitely adjustable & responds well to being set up right
That does not mean stick it up the pole & forget it
A good sail is a fast stable sail, is a good sail to sail with
I have no issues with batten cars
I always go head to wind to lower sails

 

[Ber]

I have a fully battened sail on my Storm 33
It's loose footed and great
Can be set very flat and I can reef it going downwind or up. This really useful when the wind picks up on a dead run
In very strong winds a slight luff helps but we never stop sailing
The lack of noise when reefing is also a boon for nervous crew

 

[Twister_Ken]

Blast from the past. Golden oldie. Wonder what the OP did?